Technology Overview

USB is simple, which is why every peripheral has gone USB. Your mouse, keyboard, printer, iPod, webcam, and hard drives have all made the switch due to the plug and play simplicity of USB. So why use the clunky old VGA monitor connector designed in 1987 and go through the pain of installing a graphics card to connect an additional monitor? There is an easier way: DisplayLink USB graphics.

DisplayLink USB graphics technology allows you to connect almost any kind of display via a standard USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 cable. The technology is designed to be simple and easy to use: just install the DisplayLink software, plug in your DisplayLink device, and within a few seconds you've got a new monitor, docking station, or projector connected to your PC. There's simply no easier way to add a display to your PC or Mac.

DisplayLink technology shows up in a wide range of products: universal USB docking stations, USB monitors and USB to Video adapters. Take a look at our DisplayLink Shop or the latest Hot Products for links to retailers selling DisplayLink products.

How It Works

DisplayLink USB graphics technology is a unique approach to USB graphics, allowing smooth video playback and providing a low latency connection that feels very much like a traditional monitor while providing the "plug and display" simplicity of USB. DisplayLink USB graphics technology allows for high resolution, full 32-bit color graphics, at resolutions up to 2560x1600 (depending on chip used). Here's how it works:

1. DisplayLink software is installed on the PC and uses resources available in the CPU and GPU to process the graphical information from your USB connected display.

2. Updates to the screen are automatically detected and compressed using the DisplayLink compression technology (DL2+ or DL3). This adaptive compression technology automatically balances the compression methods based on the content, available CPU power, and USB bandwidth, providing the best possible USB graphics experience at any given moment.

3. Compressed data packets are sent over the standard USB 2.0 cable as quickly as possible to maintain a very interactive user experience.

4. A high speed DisplayLink chip embedded in the monitor, docking station, projector or adapter decodes the compressed data back into video or graphics data.